The Lake Afton Public Observatory offers programs for the general
public on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the year. For a full list of programs, dates and times, Click
here. School classes can reserve an Observatory program on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and
Wednesday during the day.

The Lake Afton Public Observatory was created in 1979 through the
cooperation of four local units of government. Construction and
equipment costs were equally divided between Sedgwick County and the
City of Wichita. Through 1994, the majority of the operating funds of
the Observatory were shared equally by the Wichita Board of Education
and Wichita State University. Since then the Observatory has been
operated by Wichita State University's Fairmount
Center for Science and Mathematics Education with additional funds
from Sedgwick County for facilities. All programs, exhibits, and school
out-reach materials are designed, prepared, and presented by
Observatory staff and volunteers.

Observatory programs also extend
beyond its walls through classroom presentations, portable editions of exhibits, instructional
astronomy games, video tapes, and astronomy activities for use in the
classroom. Call (316) 978-3191 for details.

Directions:
The Observatory is located 20 miles southwest of downtown Wichita at
MacArthur Road (39th Street South) and 247th Street West in Lake
Afton County Park. It is immediately north of the lake, just off
MacArthur Road.
Map:
For a
map, click here. Current program information is available in a
recorded message by calling 316-WSU-STAR (978-7827).
Office address:
Lake Afton Public Observatory
Wichita State University
1845 Fairmount
Wichita, KS 67260-0032

Note: An Observatory program will automatically be cancelled if
there is a severe thunderstorm warning or tornado warning anywhere in
Sedgwick County during the hour prior to the start of a program.
Programs also will be cancelled if travel conditions are hazardous.
If possible, the recorded program information at (316) WSU-STAR [978-7827]
will be changed to reflect any program cancellations.